Navigation

PEIFA Today – Tuesday, May 23, 2017

In partnership with PEI Agromart and Island Lime, the PEI Federation of Agriculture is pleased to offer a scholarship of $2,000 for the 2017/18 academic year.

Application deadline is June 1, 2017. Click here for the application form.

Local, Regional, Canadian News

German minister for food and agriculture visits P.E.I.

German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt joined his Canadian counterpart Lawrence MacAulay Monday at MacAulay’s farm in St. Peter’s Bay. MORE

Agricultural runoff complaints increase on P.E.I.

There have been 15 complaints to P.E.I.’s Ag-Environment Team this spring, more than the last two years combined. MORE

Research supports on-farm adoption of clean technologies and practices

Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms from one generation of farm family to the next. They also know that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. MORE

Quebec sets up single line for flooded farmers

Quebec farmers whose operations have been hit by flooding in recent weeks will have a single number to call for provincial support starting Tuesday. MORE

Three B.C. dairy workers who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty get jail time

British Columbia’s provincial court says three dairy farm workers from the Fraser Valley have been sentenced to jail for causing distress to an animal after an undercover video showed several employees abusing milk cows. MORE

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Job Opportunity

AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OFFICER

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

Location: Charlottetown

FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED POSITION – (COMMENCING IMMEDIATELY)

Closing date – May 23, 2017

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is committed to the sustainable development of the agriculture industry on Prince Edward Island. The purpose of this position is to provide a broad range of highly specialized technical services to the staff of the Sustainable Agriculture Section to support the delivery of professional agri-environmental and engineering services that ensure that our natural resources are used in a sustainable manner. This position will also provide key technical support to research that will lead to improved beneficial management practices and assist in the delivery of agri-environmental policy and programs. MORE

Environmental Farm Plan Renewals

The Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program sent out renewal letters in early 2017 to notify producers that their environmental farms plans would be expiring at the end of the year. If you are a producer who has not yet contacted the office to have your plan updated please call Matt or JoAnn at 902-368-7289.

EFP’s are valid for 5 years and we encourage all farmers to participate in the program. Participation in the program also allows you to apply for funding through the Growing Forward 2 Agriculture Stewardship Program, Farmland Finance Program and the Future Farmer Program. For your convenience the EFP can be completed at your farm or at the PEI Federation of Agricultural office and takes approximately 1.5 hrs to complete. EFP’s are no cost to the producer.

If you feel your EFP may be expired and you have not yet been contacted please call the office and we will check the status of your last plan. Further information on the Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program can be found on the PEI Federation of Agriculture webpage www.peifa.ca/efp/

Livestock

Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were rather subdued this past week; average prices were unchanged from seven days earlier. However, the bloom has come off the rose as the extreme highs from earlier in May have evaporated. MORE

Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives gets ready for summer research

Alexis Stockford, reporter with the Manitoba Co-operator, takes an up close look at summer research preparations at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives. MORE

Fed Cattle Futures on W20/2017 Close on Firm Note

Fed cattle futures closed last week on a firm note, with the August contract up 140 points and the Jun-Aug spread now at the lowest point since last November, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE

Cattlemen Applaud Gov Branstad’s Confirmation as Ambassador to China

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has applauded the confirmation of Governor Terry Branstad as Ambassador to China, saying that he is the “ideal person to help facilitate the US beef industry’s return to the Chinese market.” MORE

A team of researchers from four American universities says the key to reducing harmful greenhouse gases (GHG) in the short term is more likely to be found on the dinner plate than at the gas pump. MORE

U.S., China accelerate beef talks

Talks on restarting U.S. beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing U.S. farmers to vie for business that has been lost by rival Brazil. MORE

Cattle Prices Continue to Strengthen

IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said cattle prices are continuing to strengthen with the base price for steers having moved up to a minimum of €4.10 all round and some prices of €4.15 to €4.20 paid. MORE

Prices are continuing on their upward track with no red ink in sight, although we have yet to scale the dizzy heights reached in November 2013 when the DAPP (now the SPP) hit 172.03p; MORE

Duo Set to Showcase Specially Selected Pork

On the first Saturday of June, thousands of people will descend on Thainstone Mart to visit the Taste of Grampian event, in association with Specially Selected Pork, which celebrates the richness and diversity of food in the region. MORE

PROFEL, the European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors, and Freshfel, the European Fresh Produce Association, will join forces, holding their first cross-sector conference on Tuesday the 20th of June 2017, at the Thon Hotel EU, Brussels. MORE

TOMRA delivers the largest eco steam peeler

The new Eco steam peeler from TOMRA stands more than eight metres tall, and has the capability to peel 650kg of potatoes in less than seven seconds. MORE

Doomsday? Svalbard Seed Vault flooded, threatened by Climate Change

It was designed as an impregnable deep-freeze to protect the world’s most precious seeds from any global disaster and ensure humanity’s food supply forever. MORE

UK approves GM blight resistant potato field trial

In the United Kingdom, farming minister George Eustice (DEFRA) has approved a four-year trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich between 2017 and 2021. MORE

Colruyt is the first distributor in Belgium to initiate a cooperation with potato producers. MORE

NW Europe potato planting area grows to 10 year high

The first estimate of acreage planted to potatoes in the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) region is projected to have reached a 10-year high. MORE

Asda now selling purple fries

From acai bowls to purple sprouting broccoli, the trend for purple food in all shapes and sizes has been sweeping the UK. Following this trend, Asda has released purple fries, called Majesty Chips. MORE

Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada were lower during the week ended May 12, weighed down by action in U.S. futures. MORE

Corn, soybeans rise after rains

Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rose on Monday morning, supported by concerns that rain will delay field work in key growing areas and may damage some recently seeded crops, traders said. MORE

New plants could improve food supply
More than 1,700 new plants have been discovered in the past year, including species that could help provide food in the future, says a report from England. MORE

Future Farmers of America brings more young people into agriculture, and gives them the tools to succeed MORE

CHS replaces CEO after earnings decline, Brazil exposure

CHS Inc., the biggest U.S. agricultural co-operative, named a new chief executive on Monday, after suffering a sharp decline in income and confirming it was a creditor of a failing Brazilian commodities trader. MORE

The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative has been approved for a 2 year period. Applications will be accepted starting April 26, 2017.

The program is designed to hire youth aged 15 to 30 for internships of up to 12 months. It will be of interest to producers and organizations working in the agriculture industry and interested in implementing agriculture projects that are environmentally beneficial.

Producers operating a farm or ranch can hire a young person to implement an environmentally beneficial project in their operation.

Agricultural organizations, such as watershed groups and companies providing environmentally beneficial services can access the program to support an environmentally beneficial project their organization is implementing. Research organizations can receive funding to support their agricultural research that benefits the environment.